Take a walk after dinner

by
Margery Gass
| Jan 29, 2013

If you had high triglycerides at your last cholesterol check, your doctor probably told you to increase your exercise. Triglycerides are the type of blood fat that stores unused calories in your fat cells, and too much contributes to atherosclerosis and heart disease. Exercise is one of the best ways to bring those levels down, but your doctor may not have told you when to do it.

Now, a little study from Japan tells us that exercising after a meal may be best. On three different days, the 10 participants did one of the following: took brisk walks and did some resistance training before the meal, took brisk walks and did some resistance training after the meal, or just rested after the meal. Compared with just resting, exercising before the meal decreased triglyceride levels by 25%, but exercising after a meal brought down triglyceride levels 72%—nearly three times as much! So make your dessert a walk. Try a walk after lunch or make a date for dinner and a walk.

Mood swings, short-term memory loss, and difficulty thinking straight are common complaints from midlife women. However, while many of these symptoms are attributed to menopause, there are other contributing factors to consider as well.

Hormones: During reproductive years, most women become accustomed to their own hormonal rhythm. When this rhythm is disrupted during perimenopause, mood changes may result.

Timing: The timing of menopause may coincide with a multitude of midlife stresses like relationship issues, divorce or widowhood, care of young children, struggles with adolescents, return of grown children to the home, being childless, concerns about aging parents and caregiving responsibilities, as well as career and education issues...

Twenty-five years ago, The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) was founded on the principle that women like you deserve the most scientifically accurate and up-to-date information. We are so proud to have provided the best in women’s health research and education to tens of thousands of women. Hopefully, we have helped you.

We have never asked for a donation, but providing this level of support is costly. I hope you will consider helping us in any way you can. Your contribution will allow us to continue the important work we do to make the lives of women healthier and better. A donation of $100 or more will get you a free copy of our Menopause Guidebook.

Tara Allmen, MD, NCMPPresident The North American Menopause Society Foundation